RhoBTB2 (DBC2) comes of age as a multifunctional tumor suppressor.

摘要

RhoBTB2 (DBC2) was initially characterized as a gene found to be homozygously deleted or mutated in a fraction of breast and lung cancer primary tumors (as well as cell lines) that was capable of inhibiting cellular proliferation. It has become evident that RhoBTB2 is a bona fide tumor suppressor. Several lines of evidence exist to support this; including homozygous deletions, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), point mutations, abrogated expression and functional studies. In this issue of Cancer Biology & Therapy, Ling et al. expand on the functional activities of RhoBTB2 in relation to malignancy by identifying RhoBTB2 as an inhibitor of invasion and migration. They also determine a mediator of these functions as well as two additional putative mediators that will require further confirmation. Collectively, Ling et al. make a significant contribution to the study of the RhoBTB2 tumor suppressor.